Opening with a question as as to whether or not the viewers was, “Able to Roc” or not, Volkswagen showcased the manufacturing model of the T-Roc in the present day in Italy. Nonetheless, the mannequin that arrived on stage didn’t fairly resemble the compact crossover idea car we’ve grown accustomed to.

Whereas in shorter in look than a standard SUV, the T-Roc isn’t the coupe-adjacent car we had been led to consider it may be. True to type, VW performed it secure.

There are some notable exceptions, nevertheless. The bi-color design permits the roofline to be mismatched with the bodywork and the inside has some enjoyable colour choices — each in its lighting and trim. But it surely lacks the swept-back roofline and lowered stance of the prototype. The upside to that is superior inside quantity and extra conventional SUV traits that the general public shall be much less prone to shrink back from. Volkswagen needs quantity, in any case.

“Folks respect the particular SUV package deal, the excessive seating place, and the trendy and sporty look,” mentioned Dr. Herbert Diess, chairman of Volkswagen’s board of administration. He continued by stating the objective of the T-Roc, and VW as a complete, is to combine leading edge know-how and superior high quality at an affordable worth.

Whereas we didn’t obtain a particular determine, Diess said the small crossover could be aimed on the 20,000 euro section, which interprets to about $23,600 USD. He mentioned VW anticipates all SUV segments to double in dimension by 2027, and that the automaker may have 19 fashions to fulfill that demand — reminding the viewers that Volkswagen is “an enormous market model.”

“The T-Roc units a brand new benchmark within the booming SUV section,” Diess said in a separate press launch. “With its performance, dynamic dealing with and know-how the T-Roc embodies all good Volkswagen qualities and can give our SUV offensive added momentum.”

Claiming that SUVs embody the promise of freedom, the chairman defined that the T-Roc shall be extremely customizable. “Folks need to stand out from the gang,” he mentioned. “For instance, [by owning] an SUV.” Along with the beforehand talked about colour choices, the crossover’s settings can personalised, with the car remembering the driving force’s presets through a cellphone app.

Based mostly on the Golf’s MQB platform, the T-Roc is available in front-wheel drive or 4Motion AWD and can provide 6 engine choices globally — with the strongest being a turbocharged unit with 190 horsepower. Nonetheless, automaker wasn’t prepared to debate displacements.

As a substitute, the automaker is touting connectivity options and high-tech security. The crossover boasts a reasonably spectacular record of crash avoidance programs, together with entrance help and lane help as normal, with non-obligatory visitors jam crawling. It additionally boasts a completely digital dashboard and a Eight-inch media show. The automaker says it has crammed the middle console with all of the connectivity options it might muster whereas offering on-line companies and apps through smartphone and Volkswagen Automotive-Internet.

At 166.7 inches lengthy, the crossover is about 10 inches shorter than the first-generation Tiguan. It has a 102.5-inch wheelbase, width is 71.6-inch (with out mirrors), and its top is 70 inches. Oddly, VW prattled on in regards to the car’s “low roof construction,” regardless that it’s pretty tall when in comparison with a Honda Honda CR-V, and would completely tower above Mazda’s CX-Three.

VW mentioned the five-seater supplies 16 cubic ft of storage behind the rear seats and virtually 46 cubes with the seat folded. We wager you possibly can get lots greater than that in case you’re keen to utilize that increased roofline and impede your rearward visibility.

The T-Roc’s trims are undecided however Volkswagen hinted at a base mannequin, adopted by two others — denoted as “Model” and “Sport.” Deliveries start in Europe this November with North America to observe quickly afterward.